Acta Brasiliensis 4(3): 187-190, 2020 Note http://revistas.ufcg.edu.br/ActaBra http://dx.doi.org/10.22571/2526-4338378 First record of Cnidoscolus obtusifolius Pohl (Euphorbiaceae) for Paraíba State, northeastern Brazil a i b i Maiara Bezerra Ramos h , Maria Gracielle Rodrigues Maciel h , José Iranildo Miranda de c i a,c i Melo h , Sérgio de Faria Lopes a Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Paraíba, Brasil. *[email protected] b Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Paraíba, Brasil. c Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Paraíba, Brasil. Received: April 29, 2020 / Acepted: June 26, 2020/ Published online: September 28, 2020 Abstract Cnidoscolus obtusifolius Pohl (Euphorbiaceae), species so far known from Minas Gerais, Bahia, Alagoas and Pernambuco States in Brazil is reported for the first time for the State of Paraíba, in the northeastern region of the country. Specimens of this taxon were collected in a fragmented area considered a Caatinga vegetation relict, where total annual precipitation is 700 mm on average and elevation of 644 m a.s.l. The records were made in September and October 2019, when the species was in fertile stage as it bore flowers and fruits. Here we provide a description of its morphology along with taxonomic comments, data on the geographical range and detailed images of the species. Keywords: Caatinga; diversity; floristics; Malpighiales. Primeiro registro de Cnidoscolus obtusifolius Pohl (Euphorbiaceae) no estado da Paraíba, nordeste do Brasil Resumo Cnidoscolus obtusifolius Pohl (Euphorbiaceae) espécie até então conhecida para os Estados de Minas Gerais (Sudeste), Bahia, Alagoas e Pernambuco (Nordeste), Brasil, está sendo registrada pela primeira vez no Estado da Paraíba, nordeste do Brasil. A espécie foi coletada em uma área residual, que representa um relicto para a vegetação da Caatinga, com altitude de 644 m.s.n.m e regime pluviométrico de 700 mm anuais. Os registros foram obtidos nos meses de Setembro e Outubro de 2019, onde a espécie se encontrava florida e frutificada, a identificação foi baseada na literatura especializada. Apresentamos descrição morfológica, comentários taxonômicos, dados de distribuição geográfica e imagens detalhadas para a espécie. Palavras-chave: Caatinga, diversidade, florística, Malpighiales. Euphorbiaceae, a belonging family in the order are endemic in the country. Despite having a high number of Malpighiales, comprises 334 genera (Webster, 1994b) and species and genera, the family's diversity is still little known nearly 8,000 species (Radcliffe-Smith & Esser, 2001). (Secco et al., 2012). This family has a wide geographical Representatives of this family occur in different plant distribution, and is associated with all phytogeographic formations in the Neotropics, but their distribution is mainly domains. Euphorbiaceae is considered an important group associated with tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in plants in the Brazilian semiarid (Alcofora do Filho et al. Africa and the Americas, with only a few genera and species 2003, Andrade et al. 2004, Sátiro & Roque 2008, Lucena occurring in temperate regions. The family is recognized as 2009). In the Caatinga domain, the family is represented by being one the most complex and morphologically diverse 228 species, distributed in 31 genera (Flora do Brasil 2020, taxonomic groups within Rosidae (Cronquist & Takhtadzhian, under construction). However, it remains relatively little 1981), as it exhibits all growth habits, ranging from small herbs studied, since most works are centered only in the states of to large size trees, in which the presence of latex is a frequent Pernambuco and Bahia (Secco et al., 2012). trait (Cronquist & Takhtadzhian, 1981; APG IV, 2016). Studies of the flora of Pernambuco such as those of In Brazil, Euphorbiaceae is represented by 950 species Lucena (2009) and Lucena and Alves (2010) have distributed in 64 genera, of which four genera and 633 species contributed to the family's knowledge and distribution in the 187 Ramos et al. – Record of C. obtusifolius in Paraíba, Brazil Northeast and Caatinga. Lucena and Alves (2009) added 29 around 1,200 m a.s.l. (Souza et al., 2009). The regional occurrences to the list of Euphorbiaceae species for the climate is of the Bsh type, that is hot, semi-arid (Alvares et Brazilian Northeast. Despite the advances provided by these al., 2013), with mean annual precipitation ranging around studies, other work needs to be done; in order to cover the 700 mm, and mean annual temperature around 26 ºC entire Northeast of Brazil to increase knowledge (Mascarenhas et al., 2005; Moro et al., 2015). With regard Euphorbiaceae diversity in the Caatinga and other northeastern to geology, the study area is inserted in the domain of the ecosystems, in addition to contributing to other areas of crystalline, characterized in general by shallow, rocky and knowledge. highly fertile soils. Specifically the Cariri region of Paraíba 2 Cnidoscolus Pohl is a prominent genus of Euphorbiaceae. state, has a total area of approximately 11,225.736 km , the This genus comprises 97 species exclusive of the Americas region encompasses relictual reliefs that witness the (Maya-Lastra & Steinmann, 2018), where its main pediplanation processes developed in the area; the landscape diversification centers are located in Brazil, with 42 species is dominated by narrow valleys and dry slopes, in addition to among which 37 are endemic to the country (Flora do Brasil multiple mountain ranges, which combined with higher 2020, under construction), and Mexico, with 25 species (Maya- levels of precipitation are responsible for the occurrence of Lastra & Steinmann, 2019). To this date, Müller (1873) more benign temperatures in the region (Mascarenhas et al., monograph remains the most comprehensive treatment on 2005). Cnidoscolus for Brazil, whereas Melo and Sales (2008) study Fertile material of Cnidoscolus obtusifolius was collected has this position for the country’s Northeast. With regard to the during two expeditions conducted between September and Brazilian species of this genus, 22 of them have been recorded October 2019. The vouchers were deposited at the Manuel in Caatinga vegetation, with 19 species being endemic to this de Arruda Câmara Herbarium (HACAM) of the floristic domain (Flora do Brasil 2020, under construction). It Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (Paraíba State University), is worth mentioning that the genus stands out for presenting Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. For the taxonomic species with different therapeutic purposes and widespread in identification, we used specialized literature (Müller popular medicine (Moura et al., 2019). Argoviensis, 1873; Melo & Sales, 2008), in addition to Representatives of Cnidoscolus are characterized by the consultation of the electronic data bases of Reflora, the presence of simple, alternate leaves, which are membranaceous Herbário Virtual da Flora e dos Fungos (Virtual Flora and to subcoriaceous, glabrous to velutinous-tomentose; their Fungal Virtual Herbarium), Jstor (https://plants.jstor.org/), flowers are sessile or pedicellate, staminate ones are distal, and Tropicos (https://www.tropicos.org/). with 10-15 free stamens organized in 2-4 whorls, while Here, we present morphological description for the pistillate flowers are proximal; the ovary is ovoid to pyriform, taxon, taxonomic and distribution notes, and illustrations glabrous to velutinous, with one ovule per locule and three (Figure 1). In the field we collected material from several styles, free or adnate at the base. The nectariferous disc is individuals, and for all characteristics we analyzed three to extrastaminal and annular; the presence of urticating trichomes five samples. in almost all vegetative and floral parts is particularly important as this is one of the diagnostic features of this genus Cnidoscolus obtusifolius Pohl, Pl. Bras. Icon. Descr. 1: 62. (Pohl, 1827; Melo & Sales, 2008). 1827. Among the species of this genus, Cnidoscolus obtusifolius Type: BRAZIL: In deserto, Bahiensis prov., C.F.P. von Pohl was known from Minas Gerais, Bahia, Alagoas and Martius 2230 (Holotype: M0233240!) Pernambuco States in Brazil. Now was reported for the first time for the State of Paraíba. While conducting fieldwork in Tree, 6-8 m tall. Urticating trichomes acicular (stinging), the municipality of São João do Tigre, in the Brazilian 0.5–4 mm long, covering the branches; stinging trichomes of semiarid, it was verified that collections of the species 2–6 mm long covering in the petioles, leaf blade, Cnidoscolus obtusifolius (Euphorbiaceae) became the first inflorescence, perianth, and fruits. Stems cylindrical, grayish record for the state’s flora, which is reported here. to reddish, glabrous to pubescent at their distal branches. Stipules 1–3 × 1–2 cm irregularly triangular, generally Caatinga, as it is known for being the main plant formation deciduous, sometimes persistent after the leaves are shed, in the Brazilian semiarid region, presents predominantly a margins glandulous-papillose, pubescent to puberulent. vegetation classified as Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest, being Petiole absent or, when present, up to 1.8 cm long, considered the most diverse dry forest in the world (Moro et cylindrical, pubescent to velutinous; petiolar glands absent. al., 2015; Queiroz et al., 2017).